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Further Workplace Health and Safety bosses will be grilled at the inquest into the Dreamworld disaster today, after a leading inspector admitted he had "no confidence" in the emergency procedures in place on the Thunder River Rapids ride.

NT to review prison bashing allegations

Northern Territory's prison authorities will review evidence into an alleged bashing of an inmate by guards, after recommendations from Coroner Greg Cavanagh.

NT Coroner Greg Cavanagh has recommended authorities investigate the alleged assault by prison guards of Robert Martin Johnson, a 34-year-old inmate on remand at Darwin's Berrimah Prison who died by suicide while in custody in January 2010.

An inquest into Johnson's death last year was told that three prison officers, Michael Collins, Allan McGlinn and James Shaw, had assaulted him on November 15, 2009.

In his 46-page findings Mr Cavanagh said he found no link between Johnson's death and the alleged assault but he recommended NT Correctional Services investigate and determine whether disciplinary proceedings were necessary.

"I am of the opinion that an unlawful assault on the deceased may well have been committed on 15 November, 2009," Mr Cavanagh said in his findings.

He also made other recommendations regarding the death.

Correctional Services should increase the number of Aboriginal Liaison Officers and health workers, give prison personnel mental health first aid training and change the way authorities determine which prisoners were "at risk", Mr Cavanagh said.

In a statement NT Correctional Services said it would consider and address all four recommendations.

Executive Director Ken Middlebrook said he would be reviewing all available information in the case, including the incident between the prison officers and Johnson.

"While this matter was immediately reported to police when allegations of excessive force were first raised, I will be reviewing all the evidence to ascertain whether any internal procedures may have been breached," Mr Middlebrook said.

During his summary of the case on Wednesday Mr Cavanagh said the three prison guards had refused to give evidence on the grounds of self incrimination.

"For the first time as coroner, the first time in 15 years, public servants of the Northern Territory have refused to give evidence about a death in their care on the basis that the evidence might incriminate them," Mr Cavanagh said.

"As to what the public and the government will make of that is a matter for them," he said.

Outside court Tina Edwards, who was Johnson's de facto partner, said she would have liked the coroner to have recommended police charge the prison officers with assault.

She said in her opinion the alleged assault had added to Johnson's existing psychological problems and contributed to his death.

Her partner had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and harmed himself in the past while in police custody, she said.

Johnson was an Aboriginal man from Cunnamulla in Queensland, and Ms Edwards said his indigenous heritage made incarceration harder because he was separated from his family.

"Indigenous people are very family-oriented. They live and breathe family," she said.

Prisoners testified at the inquest that an assault had occurred, and one said he saw Mr McGlinn drop his knee onto Johnson's head and the officer put Johnson into a headlock, although Mr Cavanagh said the prisoner appeared to exaggerate details of the assault.

Mr Cavanagh said because he couldn't find a connection between the alleged bashing and Johnson's death he was not required to report the matter to police or the Director of Public Prosecutions.